Widespread Reactions to the 'Issuance of Execution Order' for Mohammad Qabadelou; Narges Mohammadi: Let's Not Give Up Tonight

Hours after Amir Raeisian, the lawyer for Mohammad Qabadelou, announced that he had received the 'execution order' for this young protester and stated that his client is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday, January 23, many figures, organizations, and social media users widely called for the halt of his execution. Mohammad Qabadelou is one of the detainees from last year's nationwide protests in Iran, accused of 'corruption on earth' through 'extensive actions against the motorcycle officers of the police force, resulting in the death of Officer Vahid Kermpour Hasanvand and injuring five police officers.' Prince Reza Pahlavi reacted to the issuance of the execution order for Mohammad Qabadelou on his social media pages, stating: 'Qabadelou, like Reza Rasayi, the blind Mujahid, and others, faces death for the fight for a free Iran.' He urged human rights organizations and Western governments to pressure the Islamic Republic to save this young man's life. Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, who is imprisoned in Evin Prison in Tehran, stated in a message: 'Let us not give up tonight. Everyone can shout 'do not execute' in any way they can.' In her Instagram message, Ms. Mohammadi wrote: 'I have gotten used to not thinking about freedom, but I wish I were free and not leaving Mohammad and his mother alone behind the prison wall tonight. Do not leave Mohammad's lonely mother alone behind the hard and ruthless prison wall tonight.' Hamed Ismailioun, a member of the PS752 Families Association, wrote on Instagram: 'The Islamic Republic issues death sentences in sham courts, with fabricated crimes and without the presence of independent defense lawyers and decides to carry them out.' Masoumeh Ahmadi, Mohammad Qabadelou's mother, called on the Kermpour family to refrain from executing her son. Mohsen Barahani, a lawyer and legal expert in Tehran, also stated: 'The execution of Qabadelou's sentence, while a retrial has been accepted by the Supreme Court and the parallel court has not yet commented on this matter, is either due to a mistake or a malice.' According to Mr. Barahani, 'If the rational elements of the judiciary do not intervene in these few hours, blood will be shed unlawfully.' Hossein Ronaghi, a political activist, also wrote: 'The execution of Mohammad Qabadelou's sentence, while the Supreme Court has annulled it, is premeditated murder. This is a crime.' A representative of the German Parliament and the political sponsor of Mohammad Qabadelou called for the halt of the execution of this protester and urged the German government to act decisively in this matter. Clara Bonger, a representative of the Left Party in the German Parliament, stated that the trial of Mohammad Qabadelou was 'not fair' and that the manner of his trial does not even correspond to what is practiced in the Islamic Republic, and such sentences and trials must be stopped. The political sponsor's expression of concern comes as Mr. Qabadelou's lawyer announced on Monday that he had received the 'execution order' for this at-risk prisoner. Based on an image of this order published by Amir Raeisian, Mohammad Qabadelou's lawyer, this 'sentence will be executed on Tuesday, January 23.' Clara Bonger told Voice of America: 'I was very shocked to hear about the impending sentence for Mohammad Qabadelou, as just a few months ago the court decided to review the case. As a result, we had a good opportunity to breathe a little and work again on his case. But now hearing this news that he might be executed tomorrow is very shocking. I think this is another page in the activities of the ruling government in Iran because in this specific case and even compared to the working process of the Islamic Republic, illegal and strange actions have been taken by the government. Therefore, I am extremely worried.' The political sponsor of Mohammad Qabadelou added: 'I say to the Islamic Republic of Iran, do not hang Mohammad Qabadelou, give him a chance for a fair trial.' Clara Bonger emphasized: 'The German government must demand that the Islamic Republic end executions and not carry out these sentences anymore, as these are illegal sentences issued following illegal trials. Political prisoners must be released and, if pursued, must receive a fair trial. A trial governed by the rule of law, but in this case, there is none. Therefore, of course, the German government must raise this demand with the Islamic Republic.' Mohammad Qabadelou, a young protester arrested during the nationwide protests of 2021, has been accused of 'corruption on earth' through 'extensive actions against the motorcycle officers of the police force, resulting in the death of Officer Vahid Kermpour Hasanvand and injuring five police officers.' In the initial ruling for this defendant, a 'retribution' sentence was issued, but this ruling was annulled and referred back for reconsideration to a parallel branch. After the initial 'retribution' sentence for Mohammad Qabadelou was confirmed by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic, the mother of this death-sentenced protester requested 'pardon and forgiveness' from the family of the killed special forces officer. Masoumeh Ahmadi, Mohammad Qabadelou's mother, on Wednesday, June 24, in a message addressed to the family of Farid Kermpour, the special forces officer killed during the nationwide protests for which Mohammad Qabadelou has been sentenced to 'retribution,' wrote: 'I hope that in honor of your young martyr, you will have mercy on my sick son and, with your utmost compassion and boundless forgiveness, grant a new life to my son.' She stated that 'we know that the martyrdom of your son is a grief that will never end,' and asked the Kermpour family 'to forgive and pardon instead of taking revenge when they can.'